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46 Ky. 108

Banfield v. Bruton

Court of Appeals of Kentucky

Decided October 3, 1846

Court of Appeals of Kentucky · decided 1846-10-03

Covenant, Case 29. Case stated. To constitute a covenant of warranty, it is not necessary that the word warrant should be used; any word or words of equivalent import showing an intention to warrant, will be sufficient. “I have this day sold to T. B. my negro boy J. aged about 22 years, which I warrant to be a slave for life,” &c.,isnot a warranty as to the age of the boy J., but at most but a description or representation.

Decided 1846-10-03

Judob Breck

¶1delivered the opinion of the Court.

¶2This was an action of covenant upon the following obligation :

“I have this day sold to T. Banfield my negro boy James, aged about twenty two years, which I warrant to be a slave for life, also sound and healthy, this 18th February, 1842. James Bruton.”

¶3The plaintiff assigned as a breach of this covenant, that the slave was not at the time of the sale about twenty two years of age, but much older, to-wit: of the age of about twenty six years. A demurrer to the declaration as to this assignment, was sustained, and whether cor*109redly or not, is the first question presented for consideration.

To constitute a covenant of warranty, it is not necessary that the word warrant should be used; any word or words of equivalent import showing an intention to warrant, will be sufficient.“I have this day sold to T. B. my negro boy J. aged about 22 years, which I warrant to be a slave for life,” &c.,isnot a warranty as to the age of the boy J., but at most but a description or representation.To authorize the Courtto set aside a verdict and grant a new trial on the ground that the verdict is against the weight of the evidence, it should appear to be flagrantly so.Peters and French for plaintiff; Apperson for defendant.

¶4Booee, &c. vs Bodes’ Adm’r.

¶5The rule is well settled, that to constitute a warranty, it is not necessary that the word warrant should be used. Any words of an import equivalent to it, and showing an intention of the parties that there should be a warranty, are sufficient.

¶6But from the phraseology of the obligation in this case, we can hardly infer that it was the intention of the parties that the warranty should extend to the age. The clause in that respect is rather descriptive of the slave, and at most can be regarded as a representation.

¶7We are of opinion, therefore, the demurrer was properly sustained.

¶8The motion for a new trial, we think, was also properly overruled.

¶9Upon the ground that the verdict was against the weight of 1he evidence, this Court, as has been repeatedly decided, will not interpose, unless the preponderance against the finding is palpable and flagrant, and which we think is not the case here.

¶10Nor are we of opinion that sufficient ground for a new trial was made out by the affidavits.

¶11Wherefore, the judgment is affirmed.

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